Bird repellant device for use on transparent surface

ABSTRACT

A device for preventing birds from flying into transparent objects is disclosed. The device comprises a thin, narrow streamer that is flexible in the wind. The streamer may have reflective properties and have an adhesive portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices used to deter birds from flyinginto windows, doors or buildings, specifically surfaces that aredesigned from transparent materials, such as glass.

Many buildings are designed today with a focus on open air and naturallight within the buildings. To achieve such results, buildings are builtusing more and larger windows. Such buildings, though aestheticallypleasing, present a hazard for birds. In many instances, the birds'instincts do not allow the bird to recognize large, transparentbarriers. Consequently, birds are prone to fly into such windows anddoors, causing injury to themselves, and possibly killing themselves.

Designs have been contemplated to deter the birds from flying intowindows or doors. For instance, Countryman, U.S. Pat. No. 2,603,485, andYoung, U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,251, teach of spider web designs applied totransparent windows as a deterrent to flying birds. However, it is notnecessarily pleasing to the eye to have a spider web located on everywindow of a house or building. Furthermore, the stationary placement ofsuch deterrents can limit the size of a window that will effectively beprotected from a bird flying into the window. Thus, an appealing,minimally invasive, efficient window deterrent is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an efficient, eye-pleasing windowdeterrent for birds that is economically feasible. The inventionconsists of a thin streamer that is attached to a window pain or othertransparent surface. The lightweight streamer is relatively narrow andmay be of any desired length.

When the streamer is attached to a transparent surface, it notifies thebirds that a barrier exists at the streamer's attachment location. Thestreamer is designed so that it can twist and turn in varying windconditions, providing an added visual deterrent for the birds. Thestreamer may also make noise when it comes into contact with the basesurface, thereby providing an audible deterrent as well. Additionally,the streamer's preferred design uses a shiny material that reflectssunlight and images to alert birds. The streamer may be further pleatedor creased to multiply the reflective properties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention being applied to abuilding.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmented top view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmented side view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a close-up sectional view of the anchoring means of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable thoseskilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodimentsherein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied inother specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has beendescribed, the details may be changed without departing from theinvention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a building having a side 10. Thebuilding side 10 has a transparent window 12. An elongated filament orstreamer 14 is located on the window 12 to notify a bird that a barrierexists and act as a deterrent so that the bird will not fly into thewindow 12. A portion of the streamer 14 is attached to the window 12,with the remaining area of the streamer 14 allowed to move freely. If itis windy, the streamer 14 will twist, curl and flutter in the wind,which will provide a moving visual deterrent for a bird not to fly intothe window 12. The thin lightweight material of the streamer 14 allowsit to move in the slightest breeze. Also, the streamer 14 will makecontact with the window 12, which may provide noise to act as an audiblealarm for the bird as well. If the window 12 is a large window orwindowpane, a longer streamer may be used, or more than one streamer 14may be adhered to the window 12 as deemed appropriate.

FIG. 1 also shows the streamer 14 being attached directly to the side 10of the building. When affixed to the side 10 of the building and not thewindow 12, the streamer 14 acts as a deterrent for birds, such aswoodpeckers. It may also act as a deterrent for birds that may wish toform nests under the eave of a house. The streamer 14 is designed toreflect light sufficiently enough to be noticeable by a bird, therebyworking effectively even if the surface the streamer 14 is attached tois opaque or has few reflective qualities.

FIG. 2 shows a top perspective view of the streamer 14. The streamer 14has anchoring means 16 located on a portion of the streamer 14,preferably one of the ends of the streamer 14. The anchoring means 16may consist of any means, such as an adhesive or a suction device, thatwould secure the streamer 14 to a surface. The anchoring means 16 allowsthe streamer 14 to be attached to the window 12 or the building side 10,as shown in FIG. 1. The preferred dimensions of the streamer 14 allow amajor lengthwise portion 19 of the streamer 14 to bend, curl, shimmerand twist, as shown in FIG. 2. The streamer 14 is preferablyapproximately 1/8″ wide and very thin, approximately 0.001″. The lengthof the streamer 14 can be determined by the needs and tastes of theuser. Preferably, the major lengthwise portion 19 of the streamer 14 islonger than the section containing the anchoring means 16, and alsolonger than it is wide. Likewise, the major lengthwise portion 19 isseparate or disengaged from the anchoring means 16, so that theanchoring means 16 will not interfere with the movement of the majorlengthwise portion 19. Such dimensions will allow adequate movement ofthe streamer. It should be noted that the streamer 14 would stillexhibit reflective qualities if the anchoring means 16 comprises agreater portion of the streamer 14 than the major lengthwise portion 19.These dimensions are suggestive of the invention and are notdeterminative of the scope of the invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show fragmented view of the streamer 14. An end of thestreamer 14 containing the anchoring means 16 is shown. The anchoringmeans 16, as shown in FIG. 4, may be thicker than the streamer 14, butsuch an arrangement is not necessary. The thickness of the anchoringmeans 16 is to show that the anchoring means 16 may be an integral partof the streamer 14, such as if the streamer 14 was coated with anadhesive material, or the anchoring means 16 may be a separate section,such as a two-sided tape or similar material. If the anchoring means 16are integral with the streamer, the anchoring means 16 is still referredto as a separate section from the major lengthwise portion 19 of thestreamer. A backing material 17 may be applied over the anchoring means16 to insure the anchoring means 16 retains its adhesive propertiesuntil it is to be used. Also, the anchoring means 16 may be applied at apoint or a number of points along the lengthwise portion 19 of thestreamer 14.

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of a section of an alternate embodiment of thestreamer 14. The alternate embodiment streamer 14 may be covered with aplurality of facets, pleats, or folds 18. The facets 18 contribute tothe deterring effect of the streamer 14. For instance, the streamer 14is preferably manufactured from a reflective material. When the streamer14 is blowing in the wind, the reflective nature of the streamer 14 willfurther deter birds from flying into the surface, since the birds willbe easily alerted by the shiny material. However, the facets 18 willallow the streamer 14 to more efficiently reflect and refract light,even if it is a calm day. The facets 18 provide more angles for thestreamer 14 to catch light, thereby improving the possibilities thatlight will be refracted off of the streamer 14 in more directions. Thefacets 18 provide a scattering effect of light in all directions toalert birds to the solid surface. The facets or pleats 18 also assistwhen the streamer 14 is attached to a non-reflective or opaque surface,such as the side 10 of a building, which was shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the streamer 14 attached to the windowpane12. As shown, the anchoring means 16 provides a distance D between thestreamer 14 and the windowpane 12. While the distance D does not have tobe extensive, it does provide for added utility for the streamer 14. Forinstance, the distance D allows for the elongated major portion 19 tolie away from the windowpane 12. The distance D allows for the elongatedmajor portion 19 to make discontinuous contact with windowpane 12 tofurther provide an audio alarm to deter a bird. Likewise, since thestreamer 14 is preferably thin, the distance D will minimize the amountof static friction that may be present between the streamer 14 and thewindowpane, which would allow for a more efficient bird deterrent.Distance D can be further increased from the windowpane 12 by attachingadhesive material 16 to the window frame above windowpane 12 whichprotrudes beyond the exterior glass surface.

The streamer 14 may be manufactured in any color and/or metallic shadethat a consumer may prefer to match a person's house or decor.Alternatively, the streamer 14 may be fabricated from a clear ortransparent material which would be less noticeable to consumers and maybe considered more aesthetically pleasing. Likewise, as previouslystated, the streamer's may be of any length preferred by the user, andmay be manufactured so that the user may adjust the length by simplycutting the streamer with a scissors. A flexible material, such as Mylaror foil, may be used for the streamer, provided that the materialremains flexible outdoors in all weather conditions. The streamer 14should be designed without perforations along the length of the streamer14. While perforations would not affect the movement of the streamer 14,they would invariably reduce the lifetime of the streamer. Because thestreamer 14 is preferably formed from a thin, flexible, lightweightmaterial, any unnecessary cuts or slits in the streamer 14 will increasethe chance of the streamer 14 to tear or shred and, thus, beineffective.

The present invention has an advantage over previous designs in that itmay deter birds over a larger scope of surfaces than previous designs.For instance as previously noted, the streamer 14 may be applied to theside of a house, as shown in FIG. 1, which would provide a deterrent fora woodpecker to peck at the house siding. The streamer 14 could also beapplied to a skylight or other angled window to deter birds and not justto surfaces that are perpendicular to a floor or the ground. Also, thestreamer 14 may be applied to the interior side of the windowpane 12, ifthe consumer prefers or is unable to access the exterior side. Likewise,the streamer may be arranged so that it may twist and turn in front ofan open window. Provided that there is a surface for the streamer to beattached to, the streamer may be used in a wide range of areas andplaces.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changeswill readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired tolimit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed. While the preferred embodiment has been described, thedetails may be changed without departing from the invention.

1. A device for repelling birds from physical contact with a structuralsurface, said device comprising: an elongated filament; means foranchoring said filament to said structural surface; and said filamentfurther including a major lengthwise portion thereof being disengagedfrom said anchoring means.
 2. The device according to claim 1 whereinsaid major lengthwise portion is non-perforated throughout its length.3. The device according to claim 1 wherein said lengthwise portion isseparated a predetermined distance from said structural surface by saidanchoring means.
 4. The device according to claim 1 wherein saidelongated filament is comprised of a reflective material.
 5. The deviceaccording to claim 4 wherein said elongated filament comprises pleats.6. The device according to claim 1 wherein said elongated filament has alength and a width, said length being greater than said width.
 7. Thedevice according to claim 1 wherein said elongated filament comprises aflexible material.
 8. The device according to claim 7 wherein saidelongated filament being capable of producing an audio alarm when saidelongated filament contacts said structural surface.